Bogdan Benyuk: Crimean Tatars are an example for Ukrainian nation

The politician and actor believes that if, after Ukraine gained independence, the government had met the needs of the Crimean Tatar people, the annexation of Crimea could have been avoided.

KYIV (QHA) -

The Crimean Tatar people today show an example of fight for their land and ideals to Ukrainians, Bogdan Benyuk, Merited Artist of Ukraine and former MP of the Verkhovna Rada, shared his opinion with a QHA correspondent.

He noted that if the Ukrainian government had met the needs of the Crimean Tatar people in the early 90s, the annexation of the Crimea would not have happened.

“Back then it was a problem, which we avoided and were afraid to touch upon. So we lost our territory. Crimean Tatars with their unity give an example to Ukrainians as how to fight. Crimean Tatars show us the trump cards, as how we should live, and first of all to the elite, which now runs our government, from the President to the Cabinet of Ministers. They show us that one’s own interests should come first in all circumstances, and it is necessary to always voice them,” said Bogdan Benyuk.

It was reported earlier that Russia occupied Crimea in February-March 2014, calling the falsified referendum of March 16 as an ‘expression of Crimeans will to join the Russian Federation.”

Most of the world has not recognized Crimea as part of Russia. For Ukraine, Crimea remains the temporarily occupied territory. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine defines February 20, 2014 as the starting date of the Russian occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol.

October 7, 2015, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the corresponding decree.